It's time for the annual Props discussion...

I'm ok with small props that add to the character of dance,
I can tolerate small articles of furniture as long as they only set the scene and are then ignored.
Complete room sets are a no no.
Flying harnesses have NO place in a dance programme.


OK
Bouquet of flowers
Walking stick / cane / umbrella
Hat

Tolerable
Seat / Chair.
Park bench at a push - not a gazebo or a floral swing seat.


No No NO!
Flying harness
Flying bicycle
Iceberg
Complete doctor's surgery
See saw / roundabout / childrens slide

What categories do you have and what props are in each?

I'd generally rather there weren't any. Even if it means losing some dances we might otherwise not have seen. Like Louis and Flavia's Charleston.

The props I really hate are the ones that are used Instead of the dance.

Like icebergs, cannons etc.

My all time favourite dance was Chelsee and Pasha's Airport quickstep- I forgave the checkin desk prop as it set the scene at the start and then was ignored until the last few seconds.

I like the props! Spice it up a bit

I wonder if the Aliona memorial bench or swing will be used this year....

I agree Mimi. Some props are tolerable.... Have a feeling though we might see a fair amount for celebs like Mark/Dave/Tony and Vanessa for the first few weeks (so they can hide behind them).

BIB. Not so sure. I think the celebs might find it hard enough at first just to cope with the dances and remembering the steps, without the added hassle of a prop to cope with. I would hope the pros would realise it's better to do a simple dance well than to complicate things unnecessarily... probably wishful thinking, I know.

I have an allergy to this one . Looks innocuous, but is generally a prelude to something vomity (twee and sacharine). *shudder*

I expect so - its been used every year since her and Matt debuted it in the VW

If they use the swing again I'll have to burn my TV.

The staircase (only exception being Kara and Artem's quickstep) and the judges' table are my pet peeve. The amount of time used, avoiding dancing or else just wiggling on the spot, with these as props really annoys me.

Plus, when the pro uses their celeb as a 'prop', and basically just dances around them for ages........

Rant over...I'm off to take my medication now...

Good point- bunches of flowers can be too...flowery! But as long as they "keep dancing", I can put up with it!

IMO the conveyance of the story can be enhanced by the costumes if needs be, other than that the dance and the music should do the job. Props might be fine in a theatrical setting, but in SCD I somehow feel they detract from the idea that it is at least based on ballroom competition.

The light show is the best prop.

Anything larger than a wheelie bin has probably gone too far.

The cauldron that obscured the view of what was an apparently good VW was my 'Grr' moment when it comes to props.

I think props are ok as long as they are integral part of the dancing, not just story telling. For instance good is Artem and Holly lamp post V waltz (I think) where they dances around it making the going round and round of the dance more meaningful as they were dancing around them.

I don't mind chairs again as long they dance using them as part of the dance, either dance siting on them or as Artem's and Kara's Tango dance over it.

Cars (like Pasha's and Chelsee's charleston), door and other bigger stuff (doctors surgery). It just detracts from dance itself.
I think a bit of storytelling is good, too much and over reliance of props it just is a prop dance. I can barely accept them in Movie weeks, but even then I think they tend to be lazy cop outs!

But that is just me!

good unit of measurement.

Maybe any stage prop must be small / light enough to be put in place by one of the dancers before the dance, without them needing a lie down and some Deep Heat afterwards

I love the props. Park benches, street lamps, juke boxes, phone booths, cars, divans, coffins, cauldrons, axes, cannons, wheelbarrows, toys, cages, gondolas, Egyptian motifs, chariots, aeroplanes - can't get enough of them. I am particularly partial to a flaming hoop that results in both dancers disappearing off the screen for several seconds, thus enhancing the atmosphere of mystery and tension.

I'm amazed at how many props you can remember! Kudos!

Not really - they forgot last year's championship-winning patient screen, treatment bed and stethoscope!

I don't mind a prop if it adds something to the dance. It gives the pros some creativity for choreography, otherwise it gets a bit dull.

haha, I am partial to a cannon which results in said celeb spending the vast majority of their alloted dance time getting into said cannon

First I love this thread
I pretty much agree with you. I would also like to add NO to cars (Chelsee's and Pasha charleston comes to mind ) NO to the boa
Oh and No to the staircase , enough !!!

When were these used? The idea of them tickles me.

Edit: Who used the slide??

I hadn't forgotten Flavia's excellent theatre set. It was mentioned in the opening post. However, I had missed out Erin's Island and the Alice in Wonderland set.

This year I am looking forward to a space shuttle, swimming pool, shark, calliope, and large hadron collider. (On second thoughts, we've already had a swimming pool in the Underwater Special. Maybe a Hot Tub or Jacuzzi, then.)

No. No. No!

Hate the props, and would rather just see dancing, and imaginative choreography.

I don't always agree with Len, but I do about the "faffing" about!